Grew up in Central WI most of the time. On dairy farms.
My dad had a couple of heart surgeries in the 70's and we spent 2 years in South Texas, Harlingen to be exact.
But in 79 we moved back to the farm for good and I was there until graduation.
I promptly joined the navy because I was a young dumb fool and wanted nothing to do with the farm anymore.
Spent 7 years in the canoe club, 2 in Scotland where I met my ex, almost 3 on the U.S.S. Coral Sea, a really old carrier and 2 on the tugs in Norfolk VA.
Just before I got out the ex split and left me with 3 kids. (the reason I ended up getting out and not re-enlisting)
I figured to get out and rejoin dad on the farm but then the barn burned down so that option was out.
So I moved back to WI anyway and spent time bumming from job to job.
I worked 6 months or so a maintenance at a meat packing plant(where I met my current wife)
Then I went on to servicing and installing dairy equipment for dairy farmers.
In 96 I tried working into ownership of a dairy farm but couldn't talk the girlfriend into joining me and found I couldn't handle 60+ cows and 3 boys by myself so I went back to the dairy equipment.
Got things straight with the girlfriend and married her.
Left the dairy equipment biz for good and got a maintenance job in a factory.
Bought a place in the country. It's only 2+ acres but I have a plan for semi-self sufficiency. I raised 2 nice fat Holstein steers and over 100 chickens last year. I hope to get a nice little Jersey cow and big old brood sow in the future and organically farm/garden what I can.